IBAJI, KOGI STATE — A commercial boat ferrying traders and residents to Ilushi market capsized on the River Niger on Tuesday around 4:30 p.m., leaving at least 20 people dead and an unknown number missing, local officials and witnesses said.
The vessel departed Onugwa community in Ibaji Local Government Area and went down before reaching Ilushi, according to eyewitness James Otoga, who said the boat was “fully loaded” with passengers heading to market activities linked to the October 1 celebrations. “Only five survivors have surfaced yet and 20 bodies have been recovered so far… more of our people are lying lifeless beneath the River Niger,” Otoga told reporters, adding that some mourners returning from a burial were also believed to be on board.
Ibaji LGA Chairman Ugeh Emmanuel described the incident as “the most disastrous” in the area’s history. “No one can authoritatively state the actual number of casualties,” he said, noting that authorities could not immediately confirm how many passengers were aboard when the boat left Onugwa. “Most of the victims were moving to Ilushi for the celebration of first October… before they met their untimely death.”
Rescue and recovery efforts were ongoing late Tuesday, with community members assisting in the search. Officials have not yet disclosed a cause of the accident.
The tragedy adds to a spate of deadly boat mishaps reported over the past year in Kogi, Niger and other riverine states, where overloading, poor visibility, and lack of safety gear are frequently cited by emergency services as risk factors. Authorities are expected to release updated casualty figures and further details as operations continue.
